Direction-indicator



R. N. McCLURE.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 6. I919.

1,366,739. Patented Jan. 25,1921.

UNITED STATES RODNEY N. MGCLURE, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION-INDICATOR.

1.,3Gti,739.

Application filed October 6, 1919.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RODNEY N. MoCLURn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to direction indicators of the character shown and described in my application for patent filed May 11, 1919, Serial Number 304,715, and has for a main object the provision of a combined di-' rection indicator, stop signal, license nurnber, display and tail light mechanism capable of operation from a convenient point in the vehicle for indicating a stop or change of direction of the vehicle.

Another object is to provide in a direction indicator, 3. main supporting housing capable of attachment to the usual tail support of a vehicle in the usual manner and on which all of the several elements hereinabove mentioned may be held. v

A further object is to provide an improved and simplified means for actuating the sig nals, or indicators. Other objects will appear as the description progresses.

I attain the above objects of my invention by means of the structure and mechanism shown in the drawings accompanying this application and forming a part hereof, similar characters ofreference being used in the several views of the drawings and throughout the specifications for indicating the same and like parts.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevationof my 111(1- cating mechanism, assembled for use;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the same on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4; is a transverse sectional elevation;

Fig. 5 is a section of Fig; 8 on line 55.

. I prefer to construct the body or the supporting and inclosing portion of my device in the form of a housing composed of acentral, or mainport'ion C," a front portion F and a rear portion R, of rectangular cross section. The front portion F incloses and supports a tail light L,,mounted in a socket S, and has a colored lens I, removably held in the open end thereof. This portion is preferably of round cross section and the outer wall 1 may have a plurality of openings 2, 2, formed therein over which transparent Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25. 1921.

Serial No. 380,900.

substances. 3, 3, may be suitably held, for

slightly illuminating the spaces at the sides and bottom of the housing F. The rear wall 4, of portion F, engages the end of housing C, and a flange 5, is formed therearound which is adapted to fit over the end of housing C, as shown, screwsG, 6, being employed for holding portion F in the position shown and described. 7

Rear portion R has a wall 7and flange 8,

which fits over the rear end of housing C and i of arms 15, 15, formed on or attached to the top 16 thereof at the sides 17, 17, and a rod 18, is pivotally heldin the upper ends of said arms and is also extended through and suitably connected with a flat vane 19, by means of lugs 20, 20, formed on said vane. One end of the rod 18 may be bent downwardly or provided with an arm 21, capable of attachment with a suitable operating-- member or mechanism at the front of the vehicle by means of a rod or cable 22, or

otherwise. The vane 19 has the word Stop printed or formed thereon for indicating that'it isthe intention of the driver to stop the motion of the vehicle and said vane is adapted to be held normally as shown in Fig. 2, so that the legend thereon will be invisible to the drivers of vehicles behind. The movement of arm 21 will turn the vane19 a quarter of a revolution so that the full tace'thereof will be presented to the drivers of vehicles behind for the purpose of indicating an intention to stop, as stated.

he bottom 23 of housing member C, has a pair of spaced arms 24,24,1"ormed on or attached thereto for the purpose of holding a license number plate P which may be suitably attached thereto by means of screws 25,

or otherwise.

When my mechanism IS in operating position on vehicle, the stopsignal 19 and number plate P will be positioned in parallel relation across the rear end of the vehiole. or transversely of the vehicle at the rear end so as to be exposed to full view, one

idler sprockets 35,

above the housing and the other below, as shown 111 Fig. l. intermediate signal it) and plate P, it provide apair of alined indicators l and l, with ibiight and Left printed or formed thereon for indicating the intended change of direction to the right or leit, as the case maybe.

Signals I and I are adapted to be normally held with edges presented to the view at the rear and areadapted to be turned a quarter of a revolution atieach operation for presenting the full faces to view when a change of direction is about to be made. In Fig. 1, l have shown both indicators 1 and I with their faces so turned to the view, but it will be understood that such an arrangement is only for the purpose of illustration and at no time during the use thereof will both, signals be simultaneously displayed Signals I and l are of a suitable form, preferably arrow-like as shown, and are attached'at their inner ends to slotted heads 26, 26, of alined shafts 27, 27, which are journaled in bearings 28, 28, on the opposite sides 17, 17. V tihait'ts 2T, 27, carry sprockets 29, 29, on their inner ends, which are adapted to be operated by means of sprocket chains, 30, 30, said chains terminating within the housing member 0, and having theirends attached to coil springs 31, 31. Thus, when the lower ends o1. springs 31, 31, are attached as shown to lugs 32, 32, on the floor of the housing G, the tension ofthe springs will cause the sprocketsto be held normally at one extreme oi action. Pins, 33, 33, attached to shafts 27, 27, and movably engaging slots B l, 23 i, formed in the bearings 28, 28, internally of the housing'seiwe to limit the action of the sprocketsin an opposite direction.

The chains 30, 30 may be operated over indicated in F 2, carried on the bottoinof housing member C, or mounted on a suitable and convenient frame member 36 of the vehicle for directing the chains forwardly of the vehi le to points for connection with the operating means.

It will be observed that the openings at the sides and bottom of thetail light portion F oft-he housingprovide ample light for the signals I and l", and the license plate P, and an opening 1nay also be provided in housing member F, whereby light may he directed upon the stop signal 19.

The several housing members may be readily talren'apa-rttor cleaning or repairing any of the parts and a wire 37 may be inserted'through an opening 38 in the floor of the member C and connected with a plug 39 for supplying electric current to the lamp Other convenient and desirable features will be readily recognized by those familiar with the art.

It will be obvious that I have provided a sightly device of simple design and structure, capable of being produced at a moderate cost and adapted to combine the signaling and other elements usually provided on the rear end of a vehicle, such as tail light, license number plate, etc, on a single supporting frame or body, thuseliminating cumbersome devices and providing a practicable signaling system ll lrat 1 claim is:

1. A direction indicator including a housing, pivoted indicator means supported therein, operating means differentially connected with said indicator means, and a flexible clement connected with said operating means and extending exter' n'l'v of id housing, for actuating said indicator means, as described. 7

2. A direction indicator including a housing, indicator means pivoted therein, operating means connected with said indicator means within said housing, a flexible ele ment connected with said operating means and extended at one end exteriorly of said liently connecthousing, and. means for ing the inner ends of said l'leizil le elemenwith said housing, for restoring said operating means. 7

3. A direction indicator including a housing. shafts rotatably held in the walls of sa d housing, sprockets on the inner ends of said shafts, indicator vanes on theouter ends thereof, sprocket chains operating over said sprockets for turning said vanes, and springs attached. to the ends of said chains for restoring said vanes to normal position aiter each operation.

i. A direction indicator including a lions ing, shafts rotatably held in the walls or? said housing, sprocket-s on the inner ends of said shafts, indicator vanes on the outer ends thereof, sprocket chains operating over said sprockets for turning said vanes, springs attached to the ends of said chains for restoring said vanes to normal position after each operation, and m ans tor limiting the operation of said vanes.

"fined at Los Angeles, county of Les .ingelcs. and State of California, this 16th day oi September, 1919.

RODNEY N. MCCLTJRE. lu iiresence of- H. M. BnUNnAon, LUTHER L. MACK.- 

